[MBB1984]

No, I am not buying into the facade that Thompson voted against the Amendment because “it didnt’ go far enough.” Let’s take an honest look at this issue. All true conservatives would have leaped at the chance to eliminate affirmative action in federal contracts even if the legislation had an exception for black universities. If Thompson was indignant at the exception, he would have subsequently tried to submit legislation without the exception, which of course he did not. The bottom line is that Thompson voted against an amendment that virtually eliminated all affirmative action in federal contracts with only a few minor exceptions. Clearly, any objective person would have to say he supports affirmative action.

[mnehring]

My point was detractors would be saying the exact same thing no matter how he voted..

[WOSG]

“No, I am not buying into the facade that Thompson voted against the Amendment because “it didnt’ go far enough.” ... All true conservatives would have leaped at the chance to eliminate affirmative action in federal contracts even if the legislation had an exception for black universities. ... The bottom line is that Thompson voted against an amendment that virtually eliminated all affirmative action in federal contracts with only a few minor exceptions.”

Yes, that is right. Check the Wash Post article for what was really going on. It was a Phil Gramm amendment:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/affirm/stories/aa072895.htm